grrm.thehedgeknight-第9节

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Dunk　sat　the　boy　on　his　shoulders。　Across　the　field；　the　viewing　stand　was　filling　up　with　highborn　lords　and　ladies；　a　few　rich　townfolk；　and　a　score　of　knights　who　had　decided　not　to　pete　today。　Of　Prince　Maekar　he　saw　no　sign；　but　he　recognized　Prince　Baelor　at　Lord　Ashford's　side。　Sunlight　flashed　golden　off　the　shoulder　clasp　that　held　his　cloak　and　the　slim　coronet　about　his　temples；　but　otherwise　he　dressed　far　more　simply　than　most　of　the　other　lords。　He　does　not　look　a　Targaryen　in　truth；　with　that　dark　hair。　Dunk　said　as　much　to　Egg。
　〃It's　said　he　favors　his　mother；〃　the　boy　reminded　him。　〃She　was　a　Dornish　princess。〃
　The　five　champions　had　raised　their　pavilions　at　the　north　end　of　the　lists　with　the　river　behind　them。　The　smallest　two　were　orange；　and　the　shields　hung　outside　their　doors　displayed　the　white　sun…and…chevron。　Those　would　be　Lord　Ashford's　Sons　Androw　and　Robert；　brothers　to　the　fair　maid。　Dunk　had　never　heard　other　knights　speak　of　their　prowess；　which　meant　they　would　likely　be　the　first　to　fall。
　Beside　the　orange　pavilions　stood　one　of　deep…dyed　green；　much　larger。　The　golden　rose　of　Highgarden　flapped　above　it；　and　the　saffie　device　was　emblazoned　on　the　great　green　shield　outside　the　door。　〃That's　Leo　Tyrell；　Lord　of　Highgarden；〃　said　Egg。
　〃I　knew　that；〃　said　Dunk；　irritated。　〃The　old　man　and　I　served　at　Highgarden　before　you　were　ever　born。〃　He　hardly　remembered　that　year　himself；　but　Ser　Arlan　had　often　spoken　of　Leo　Longthorn；　as　he　was　sometimes　called；　a　peerless　jouster；　for　all　the　silver　in　his　hair。　〃That　must　be　Lord　Leo　beside　the　tent；　the　slender　greybeard　in　green　and　gold。〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Egg。　〃I　saw　him　at　King's　Landing　once。　He's　not　one　you'll　want　to　challenge；　ser。〃
　〃Boy；　I　do　not　require　your　counsel　on　who　to　challenge。〃
　The　fourth　pavilion　was　sewn　together　from　diamond…shaped　pieces　of　cloth；　alternating　red　and　white。　Dunk　did　not　know　the　colors；　but　Egg　said　they　belonged　to　a　knight　from　the　Vale　of　Arryn　named　Ser　Humfrey　Hardyng。　〃He　won　a　great　melee　at　Maidenpool　last　year；　ser；　and　overthrew　Ser　Donnel　of　Duskendale　and　the　Lords　Arryn　and　Royce　in　the　lists。〃
　The　last　pavilion　was　Prince　Valarr's。　Of　black　silk　it　was；　with　a　line　of　pointed　scarlet　pennons　hanging　from　its　roof　like　long　red　flames。　The　shield　on　its　stand　was　glossy　black；　emblazoned　with　the　three…headed　dragon　of　House　Targaryen。　One　of　the　Kingsguard　knights　stood　beside　it；　his　shining　white　armor　stark　against　the　black　of　the　tentcloth。　Seeing　him　there；　Dunk　wondered　whether　any　of　the　challengers　would　dare　to　touch　the　dragon　shield。　Valarr　was　the　king's　grandson；　after　all；　and　son　to　Baelor　Breakspear。
　He　need　not　have　worried。　When　the　horns　blew　to　summon　the　challengers；　all　five　of　the　maid's　champions　were　called　forth　to　defend　her。　Dunk　could　hear　the　murmur　of　excitement　in　the　crowd　as　the　challengers　appeared　one　by　one　at　the　south　end　of　the　lists。　Heralds　boomed　out　the　name　of　each　knight　in　turn。　They　paused　before　the　viewing　stand　to　dip　their　lances　in　salute　to　Lord　Ashford；　Prince　Baelor；　and　the　fair　maid；　then　circled　to　the　north　end　of　the　field　to　select　their　opponents。　The　Grey　Lion　of　Casterly　Rock　struck　the　shield　of　Lord　Tyrell；　while　his　golden…haired　heir　Ser　Tybolt　Lannister　challenged　Lord　Ashford's　eldest　son。　Lord　Tully　of　Riverrun　tapped　the　diamond…patterned　shield　of　Ser　Humfrey　Hardyng；　Ser　Abelar　Hightower　knocked　upon　Valarr's；　and　the　younger　Ashford　was　called　out　by　Ser　Lyonel　Baratheon；　the　knight　they　called　the　Laughing　Storm。
　The　challengers　trotted　back　to　the　south　end　of　the　lists　to　await　their　foes：　Ser　Abelar　in　silver　and　smoke　colors；　a　stone　watchtower　on　his　shield；　crowned　with　fire；　the　two　Lannisters　all　crimson；　bearing　the　golden　lion　of　Casterly　Rock；　the　Laughing　Storm　shining　in　cloth…of…gold；　with　a　black　stag　on　breast　and　shield　and　a　rack　of　iron　antlers　on　his　helm；　Lord　Tully　wearing　a　striped　blue…and…red　cloak　clasped　with　a　silver　trout　at　each　shoulder。　They　pointed　their　twelve…foot　lances　skyward；　the　gusty　winds　snapping　and　tugging　at　the　pennons。
　At　the　north　end　of　the　field；　squires　held　brightly　barded　destriers　for　the　champions　to　mount。　They　donned　their　helms　and　took　up　lance　and　shield；　in　splendor　the　equal　of　their　foes：　the　Ashfords'　billowing　orange　silks；　Ser　Humfrey's　red…and…white　diamonds；　Lord　Leo　on　his　white　charger　with　green　satin　trappings　patterned　with　golden　roses；　and　of　course　Valarr　Targaryen。　The　Young　Prince's　horse　was　black　as　night；　to　match　the　color　of　his　armor；　lance；　shield；　and　trappings。　Atop　his　helm　was　a　gleaming　three…headed　dragon；　wings　spread；　enameled　in　a　rich　red；　its　twin　was　painted　upon　the　glossy　black　surface　of　his　shield。　Each　of　the　defenders　had　a　wisp　of　orange　silk　knotted　about　an　arm；　a　favor　bestowed　by　the　fair　maid。
　As　the　champions　trotted　into　position　Ashford　Meadow　grew　almost　still。　Then　a　horn　sounded；　and　stillness　turned　to　tumult　in　half　a　heartbeat。　Ten　pairs　of　gilded　spurs　drove　into　the　flanks　of　ten　great　warhorses；　a　thousand　voices　began　to　scream　and　shout；　forty　iron…shod　hooves　pounded　and　tore　the　grass；　ten　lances　dipped　and　steadied；　the　field　seemed　almost　to　shake；　and　champions　and　challengers　came　together　in　a　rending　crash　of　wood　and　steel。　In　an　instant；　the　riders　were　beyond　each　other；　wheeling　about　for　another　pass。　Lord　Tully　reeled　in　his　saddle　but　managed　to　keep　his　seat。　When　the　mons　realized　that　all　ten　of　the　lances　had　broken；　a　great　roar　of　approval　went　up。　It　was　a　splendid　omen　for　the　success　of　the　tourney；　and　a　testament　to　the　skill　of　the　petitors。
　Squires　handed　fresh　lances　to　the　jousters　to　replace　the　broken　ones　they　cast　aside；　and　once　more　the　spurs　dug　deep。　Dunk　could　feel　the　earth　trembling　beneath　the　soles　of　his　feet。　Atop　his　shoulders；　Egg　shouted　happily　and　waved　his　pipestem　arms。　The　Young　Prince　passed　nearest　to　them。　Dunk　saw　the　point　of　his　black　lance　kiss　the　watchtower　on　his　foe's　shield　and　slide　off　to　slam　into　his　chest；　even　as　Ser　Abelar'　s　own　lance　burst　into　splinters　against　Valarr'　s　breastplate。　The　grey　stallion　in　the　silver…and…smoke　trappings　reared　with　the　force　of　the　impact；　and　Ser　Abelar　Hightower　was　lifted　from　his　stirrups　and　dashed　violently　to　the　ground。
　Lord　Tully　was　down　as　well；　unhorsed　by　Ser　Humfrey　Hardyng；　but　he　sprang　up　at　once　and　drew　his　longsword；　and　Ser　Humfrey　cast　aside　his　lance　…　unbroken　…　and　dismounted　to　continue　their　fight　afoot。　Ser　Abelar　was　not　so　sprightly。　His　squire　ran　out；　loosened　his　helm；　and　called　for　help；　and　two　servingmen　lifted　the　dazed　knight　by　the　arms　to　help　him　back　to　his　pavilion。　Elsewhere　on　the　field；　the　six　knights　who　had　remained　ahorse　were　riding　their　third　course。　More　lances　shattered；　and　this　time　Lord　Leo　Tyrell　aimed　his　point　so　expertly　he　ripped　the　Grey　Lion's　helm　cleanly　off　his　head。　Barefaced；　the　Lord　of　Casterly　Rock　raised　his　hand　in　salute　and　dismounted；　yielding　the　match。　By　then　Ser　Humfrey　had　beaten　Lord　Tully　into　surrender；　showing　himself　as　skilled　with　a　sword　as　he　was　with　a　lance。
　Tybolt　Lannister　and　Androw　Ashford　rode　against　each　other　thrice　more　before　Ser　Androw　finally　lost　shield；　seat；　and　match　all　at　once。　The　younger　Ashford　lasted　even　longer；　breaking　no　less　than　nine　lances　against　Ser　Lyonel　Baratheon；　the　Laughing　Storm。　Champion　and　challenger　both　lost　their　saddles　on　their　tenth　course；　only　to　rise　together　to　fight　on；　sword　against　mace。　Finally　a　battered　Ser　Robert　Ashford　admitted　defeat；　but　on　the　viewing　stand　his　father　looked　anything　but　dejected。　Both　Lord　Ashford's　Sons　had　been　ushered　from　the　ranks　of　the　champions；　it　was　true；　but　they　had　acquitted　themselves　nobly　against　two　of　the　finest　knights　in　the　Seven　Kingdoms。
　I　must　do　even　better；　though；　Dunk　thought　as　he　watched　victor　and　vanquished　embrace　and　walk　together　from　the　field。　It　is　not　enough　for　me　to　fight　well　and　lose。　I　must　win　at　least　the　first　challenge；　or　I　lose　all。
　Ser　Tybolt　Lannister　and　the　Laughing　Storm　would　now　take　their　places　among　the　champions；　replacing　the　men　they　had　defeated。　Already　the　orange　pavilions　were　ing　down。　A　few　feet　away；　the　Young　Prince　sat　at　his　ease　in　a　raised　camp　chair　before　his　great　black　tent。　His　helm　was　off。　He　had　dark　hair　like　his　father；　but　a　bright　streak　ran　through　it。　A　servingman　brought　him　a　silver　goblet　and　he　took　a　sip。　Water；　if　he　is　wise；　Dunk　thought；　wine　if　not。　He　found　himself　wondering　if　Valarr　had　indeed　inherited　a　measure　of　his　father's　prowess；　or　whether　it　had　only　been　that　he　had　drawn　the　weakest　opponent。
　A　fanfare　of　trumpets　announced　that　three　new　challengers　had　entered　the　lists。　The　heralds　shouted　their　names。　〃Ser　Pearse　of　House　Caron；　Lord　of　the　Marches。〃　He　had　a　silver　harp　emblazoned　on　his　shield；　though　his　surcoat　was　patterned　with　nightingales。　〃Ser　Joseth　of　House　Mallister；　from　Seagard。〃　Ser　Joseth　sported　a　winged　helm；　on　his　shield；　a　silver　eagle　flew　across　an　indigo　sky。　〃Ser　Gawen　of　House　Swann；　Lord　of　Stonehelm　on　the　Cape　of　Wrath。〃　A　pair　of　swans；